2025 Volkl Mantra 88 Skis

When it comes to exceptional on trail carving performance, there are a few that stick out and the 2025 Volkl Mantra 88 is most certainly in that exclusive group. Powerful and extremely precise, the Mantra 88 has edge grip beyond your imagination and turbocharged energy release at the end of a turn. To back this up, there is some versatility in the mix here as some ungroomed adventuring is totally in the cards. But on trail trenching is more so what the 88 desires above all.

Why we like it:

The high level of edge grip is something that cannot be overlooked as it is one of the top performers in the market. Vibration damping and high-speed stability are also characteristics that the Mantra 88 exhibits to an extremely high level. Pop and energy towards the end of a carved turn is a consistent occurrence with precision and responsiveness being found at the beginning of turns.

Who it's for:

Advanced to expert skiers who are looking for top-end carving performance on trail who know how to properly manipulate a ski and drive them always will have the most success.

Highlights:

Volkl’s 3D Radius sidecut gives the Mantra 88 3 different turn radii depending on which portion of the ski is driven and weighted. The tip, underfoot zone, and aft portions of the skis have specific sidecuts. Tailored Titanal Frame is made up of a full sheet of titanal under the core with a segmented frame above the core to allow tailored torsional and longitudinal flex to specific portions of the ski to provide incredible edge grip but also provide some forgiveness for intuitiveness. Tailored Carbon Tips use hand-laid carbon stringers in the tips to adjust their torsional stiffness to boost turn initiation smoothness and precision. Volkl’s Multilayer Wood Core utilizes poplar and beech stringers to provide energy and stiffness to particular sections of the ski where it is most needed.

Things to consider:

The Mantra 88 is not a light and supple ski, it is quite the opposite and that is totally fine. It’s burly build and incredible carving performance come with a heavier weight and a stiff flex pattern to achieve this. Due to its limited tip and tail rocker, they are not the most maneuverable when it comes to off-piste exploration and moguls.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Skis true to size. If you are a less aggressive skier who wants a lot of edge grip, sizing down will still give you the grip you are looking for and boost some maneuverability, however these will still likely be a handful. If you are an aggressive skier who prefers a more maneuverable ski but wants the edge grip and carving performance the Mantra 88 has to offer, we would recommend you size down as well. If you are an expert skier or former racer that wants the absolute top end of carving performance, we recommend sticking with the size closest to your typical ski length.